Letter: Any difference in the parties?

I am frequently asked what the difference between the parties is. The Republicans are conservatives aren't they?

Comment

By Dr. G.F. WelchLeavenworth

The Leavenworth Times - Leavenworth, KS

By Dr. G.F. WelchLeavenworth

Posted Mar. 22, 2013 at 8:26 PM
Updated Mar 22, 2013 at 8:28 PM

By Dr. G.F. WelchLeavenworth

Posted Mar. 22, 2013 at 8:26 PM
Updated Mar 22, 2013 at 8:28 PM

To the editor:

I am frequently asked what the difference between the parties is. The Republicans are conservatives aren't they? Aren't the Democrats liberals? This common perspective is both widely accepted (the dictionary definition of myth) and also misleading.

Many Republicans do support such conservative beliefs as opposition to abortion, mainstream religious values, balanced budgets, etc. Many Democrats do support a more fair and equal society, relegation of religious values to the non-public sphere, and free issuance of money and debt in pursuit of benefits for all members of our society. This is the truth part of these myths. However, the values of both parties have eroded and the majorities of both parties (at least those in office) favor lines typically closer to the middle. In fact, some Democrats share values more in line with the Republican platform while some

Republicans share values more in line with the Democrat platform.

It has become harder and harder to tell the difference based solely on their label. It is a citizen's duty to get to know them. Unfortunately, most of us will not do that but just vote along major party lines because we have always voted that way or because we have been told to do so.

One party does stand out and because of that, it is growing – 50 percent over the past year. It certainly appears to be the party of the future. The Conservative Party holds the values that our grandparents would have recognized but which both parties have largely forgotten or just give lip service to. Religious values, Second Amendment, fiscal sanity, and America first (including ending all too common military adventures) – the party was created to support all of these because many know that no other party will. The Conservative Party has now come to Leavenworth. Hope to see you at the membership meeting at the Leavenworth Public Library on March 23 at 10 a.m.